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Instant Pot Black Bean Soup with Cilantro Lime Rice Garnish

Black Bean soup
This simple, hearty soup is elevated with a tasty rice garnish. It makes a pretty presentation when the rice is individually molded and placed on each bowl of soup.

Ingredients

 1 pound dried black beans (2 ½ cups)
 1 ½ quarts water
 1 quart vegetable broth
 1 ½ cups chopped onions
 1 cup green or red bell pepper, chopped
 4 cloves garlic, minced
 2 teaspoons dried oregano
 2 teaspoons dried parsley
 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
 ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste, optional
 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
 Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Garnish
 Rice
 Additional chopped cilantro
 Hot sauce, (optional)
Cilantro Lime Rice Garnish Ingredients
 2 cups brown basmati rice
 4 cups water (to cook)
 2 teaspoons olive oil
 3-4 tablespoons lime juice
 1 ½ cups cilantro, washed thoroughly and chopped
 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Instructions

1

Wash beans thoroughly, discarding shriveled beans and any debris found.

2

Place all ingredients, except lemon juice, in an Instant Pot. Set to Pressure Cook for 40 minutes. Let pressure release naturally.

3

Puree soup using an immersion blender until smooth. You can also use a blender, filling half full and carefully blending on low. Repeat until entire soup is pureed.

4

Place in a soup pot and simmer on low until reheated. Stir in lemon or lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. If too thick, add broth or water to get the consistency desired.

5

While soup is cooking, prepare the rice.

6

Soak the rice for 10 minutes.

7

Discard the water and look the rice over carefully, removing any debris you find.

8

Rinse rice until water runs clear.

9

Place rice and water in a large sauce pan or a rice cooker. (See note at bottom.)

10

If using a sauce pan, bring rice to a boil. Cover pan and turn heat down to simmer. Cook for 40 minutes.

11

Check the rice. If water is absorbed, turn off heat. If the water is not absorbed, cook until it is. Fluff with a fork, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.

12

If using a rice cooker, when rice is cooked, fluff with a fork.

13

To the fluffed rice, add the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt

14

Toss gently.

15

To assemble the soup with the rice garnish: place the pureed soup in bowls. For each bowl, mold the rice garnish in a ½ cup measuring cup or a small dessert bowl. Carefully place the garnish on the soup. Sprinkle with additional chopped cilantro. Serve with hot sauce.

Serves 4 to 6

Note:
Many rice cookers give different instructions for cooking rice. Follow the recommended water to rice ratio for your machine.

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Ingredients

 1 pound dried black beans (2 ½ cups)
 1 ½ quarts water
 1 quart vegetable broth
 1 ½ cups chopped onions
 1 cup green or red bell pepper, chopped
 4 cloves garlic, minced
 2 teaspoons dried oregano
 2 teaspoons dried parsley
 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
 ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste, optional
 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
 Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Garnish
 Rice
 Additional chopped cilantro
 Hot sauce, (optional)
Cilantro Lime Rice Garnish Ingredients
 2 cups brown basmati rice
 4 cups water (to cook)
 2 teaspoons olive oil
 3-4 tablespoons lime juice
 1 ½ cups cilantro, washed thoroughly and chopped
 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions

1

Wash beans thoroughly, discarding shriveled beans and any debris found.

2

Place all ingredients, except lemon juice, in an Instant Pot. Set to Pressure Cook for 40 minutes. Let pressure release naturally.

3

Puree soup using an immersion blender until smooth. You can also use a blender, filling half full and carefully blending on low. Repeat until entire soup is pureed.

4

Place in a soup pot and simmer on low until reheated. Stir in lemon or lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. If too thick, add broth or water to get the consistency desired.

5

While soup is cooking, prepare the rice.

6

Soak the rice for 10 minutes.

7

Discard the water and look the rice over carefully, removing any debris you find.

8

Rinse rice until water runs clear.

9

Place rice and water in a large sauce pan or a rice cooker. (See note at bottom.)

10

If using a sauce pan, bring rice to a boil. Cover pan and turn heat down to simmer. Cook for 40 minutes.

11

Check the rice. If water is absorbed, turn off heat. If the water is not absorbed, cook until it is. Fluff with a fork, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.

12

If using a rice cooker, when rice is cooked, fluff with a fork.

13

To the fluffed rice, add the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt

14

Toss gently.

15

To assemble the soup with the rice garnish: place the pureed soup in bowls. For each bowl, mold the rice garnish in a ½ cup measuring cup or a small dessert bowl. Carefully place the garnish on the soup. Sprinkle with additional chopped cilantro. Serve with hot sauce.

Serves 4 to 6

Note:
Many rice cookers give different instructions for cooking rice. Follow the recommended water to rice ratio for your machine.

Instant Pot Black Bean Soup with Cilantro Lime Rice Garnish